The confirmation that the President, Mrs Robinson, will resign in September is focusing the attention of all the political parties on finding candidates of substance to succeed her.
The election is expected to take place towards the end of October. The
Government will decide the precise date for polling after she leaves office on
September 12th.
It is widely expected that the parties will not agree a unity candidate and that the contest will be keenly fought as a number of figures emerge as aspirants.
Following the formal announcement yesterday of her early departure from Aras an Uachtarain to take up her new post as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a Government spokesman said the three-member Presidential Commission would take over her responsibilities until a successor was chosen.
The Commission consists of the Chief Justice, the Ceann Comhairle of the Dail and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. The Constitution dictates that the election must take place within 60 days of the President's departure from office.
Following confirmation of Mrs Robinson's departure, political leaders in
Leinster House again paid rich tribute to her achievements as Head of State.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said she had represented the people of Ireland with the greatest distinction for almost seven years in what was, by common consent, an outstandingly successful term of office.
"We know she will bring her own unique style, insight and personal commitment to her new position, reaching out to the forgotten ones, to those who live their lives under oppression and duress," he said.
"President Robinson, from her very earliest involvement in public affairs, has always espoused human rights issues, and this honour bestowed on her confirms the quality of her work, the strength of her convictions and the length of her committed public service."
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Bruton, who is on holiday abroad, said his party wished her "every success in the daunting challenges that her new post will bring her in the protection of human rights".